The Wind Rises

By the time Chen Cheng pushed the door open, the wind had begun to rise outside.

Chen Cheng knew this must be what they called the Wind Season.

Doyle came out with Chen Cheng. He had changed into clean clothes. He held out a hand to feel the wind, then looked toward the horizon and said:

"Looks like this is a lucky year. We still have more than half a day before the wind reaches us."

Chen Cheng did not know how Doyle had worked that out, but after living here for so long, they must have learned some patterns in the weather.

Doyle lowered his hand and smiled at Chen Cheng.

"Your Majesty, please follow me."

Chen Cheng glanced at the dust rising along the horizon, then followed Doyle away.

He knew Doyle and the others could not possibly spend every Wind Season hiding in those stone houses.

By their own account, Sandworms arrived with the Wind Season, and those stone houses clearly could not withstand their attacks.

Sure enough, Doyle took him to the Wind Shelter Cave inside the city.

Calling it a cave was not quite right. It was actually a supply warehouse left over from the construction of Desert City.

The entire warehouse was heavily fortified. Dense runes covered its walls, ceiling, and floor, and a magic array drew water from the air.

Now it served as Doyle and the others' vital supply depot and wind shelter.

It also held every urn of ashes they had managed to recover.

Each year, they sent the oldest members of their group out as lookouts and bait, drawing the Sandworms toward the various Wind Shelter Caves.

Protected by the magic arrays, the caves were impossible for the Sandworms to enter. The people could then shoot them and use them